The Wildcats received an unexpectedly strong vote of confidence, from the Selection Committee on Sunday. Despite staggering down the stretch, Villanova warranted a #2 seed, higher than anticipated. I had been bracing for a #4; I felt that we would get - and deserved - a #3; I was astonished when all of the 3s and 4s had been issued, and it thus became apparent that we had the only high seed left, the #2 in the Midwest Region in Providence, RI. (Yes, I know the geography under the "pod" system doesn't make sense.)
Villanova will be facing Robert Morris on Thursday, with tip time to be announced.
Check back for more...
Monday Morning UPDATE: Tip time has been announced for 12:30 PM on Thursday afternoon. This means that of the 32 first-round games, we will be among the first three. Part of the fun will be the fact that if we win, we can relax then, and enjoy the other 29 first-round games on Thursday and Friday, knowing that we'll be playing again on Saturday...
6 comments:
My, my, my!
Like you I was bracing for a 4 and hoping for a 3.
Did we deserve a 2? We got it, and I'll take it.
I now like our chances of getting beyond the first weekend, but then I remember liking our chances of beating Old Dominion, too. Still have to win the games.
Seamus
Hello, Seamus-
Thanks for the comment. I concur that this was marvelous news - and highly unexpected. (I'm glad to hear that my anticipation for the upside 3, downside 4 was reasonably well-founded.)
Certainly, I think that the basketball gods might have decided to give us some good luck. We haven't had Taylor King. Scottie's shot against West Virginia doesn't drop. We don't get the threes to fall against Marquette.
Per Seamus's reference of his remembrance of "liking our chances of beating Old Dominion, too..."
For those of you who are unfamiliar with this traumatic (and extremely important) historical event in Villanova's illustrious annals, I'm going to write a full article on it.
It took place in the 1995 NCAA tournament, when #3 Villanova - in Kerry Kittles's junior year - lost in triple overtime to #14 Old Dominion in the first round.
Hopefully, the same fate will not befall us this year...
I'll be adding more content constantly, so please check back...
Go Wildcats! Beat the Robert Morris Colonials!
I don't want to analyze the rest of the bracket too much, but I've very glad to be in a region with Duke and Baylor instead of two other top-3 seeds, and I'll just leave it at that.
First things first. We've been practically gifted a clear path to the Sweet 16, so let's hope we can avoid any early surprises. Robert Morris, as far as I can tell, it relatively weak even for a 15 seed. I don't think they'll be a threat, although stranger things have happened on occasion. It's the second round that scares me this weekend. I don't know anything about Richmond or St. Mary's, but there's something about lower-seeded mid majors that leaves me a wee bit uneasy.
Either way, I'm just taking it one day at a time. It's March Madness. Rule one is survive and advance. Rule two is there are no other rules.
Hello, Jonathan-
Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment. Impressive analysis. My thoughts:
1) I was equally pleased with Baylor and Duke in our bracket. I was somewhat surprised that the SC gave us a potential rematch with Duke, since we crushed them so memorably in the Sweet 16 last year.
(Note: Seeding guidelines try to avoid rematches from the previous year's tournament, but only prior to the Elite Eight, so it was within the guidelines. Good news for us, but I'm still surprised by it.)
2) I take all opponents with the utmost seriousness. The 1995 team mentioned above, was the hottest team in the nation entering the tournament - Big East tournament champions for the only time, before or since. We lost to a #14 seed in the first round.
Also, we are overseeded with a 2. If there was ever a ripe situation for a 15 seed to win a game, it would be this one.
3) Richmond and Saint Mary's - likewise, and they're significantly better than Robert Morris. (Fortunately, we don't have to play them both...)
But as you say, survive and advance...
Go Wildcats!
Yes, Jonathan, take the games one at a time is sound advice!
Seamus
Hello, Seamus-
I concur completely. It would be awesome if this tournament lasts six games, but there's always the chance it's only going to last one... (And accordingly, savor and enjoy each one, also...)
Go Wildcats!
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